This book reflects the work—and the patience—of more people than we can name and thank in these lines.
Hunter is grateful to his wife, Gloria Walker, who has been a kind partner and crucial adviser. He also knows this book and so much more would not have been possible without the love of his moms, sister, brother-in-law, suegros, cuñados, and Bertha.
Luppe is thankful for his fiancée, Polly Mosendz, his parents and sisters, and Polly’s mother and grandmother, and for the oceans of wisdom, kindness, and support they’ve given him.
We are both indebted to each other’s loved ones, without whom we know our writing partnership could not have been possible.
This project was guided by many skillful hands. First and foremost, Molly Atlas, our brilliant, indefatigable, and steadfast agent. We relied on Molly from the first word of the manuscript to the last. Molly enthusiastically embraced our idea for this project, helped us to refine it, and ensured it ended up in the right hands. Our insightful editor, Tom Mayer, opened the door for two first-time authors, gave us much needed direction, and helped us steer our project to its distant shore with elegance and grace. Moreover, Tom’s whole team at W. W. Norton impressed us again and again with their talent and professionalism. We want to offer particular thanks to Lauren Abbate, Nneoma Amadiobi, Steve Colca, Jessica Friedman, Laura Goldin, Matthew Hoch, William Avery Hudson, Yana Lande, Johana Ramos-Boyer, Don Rifkin, Rachel Salzman, and Sarahmay Wilkinson.
In addition, Hunter would like to thank Josh Marshall, David Kurtz, and the team at Talking Points Memo, who gave vital support in the final months of this project. He is also deeply appreciative of the friends who provided advice, contacts, and support along the way, including Alexander Chee, Chris Hayes, Richard Rushfield, Dolita Cathcart, Yariv Chen, Michael B. Kelley, Lisa Belkin, Danny Bloomfield, Colin Campbell, and his mentor, the late Gordy Weil. Luppe would particularly like to thank Sarah Binder, whose in-depth work on the filibuster informs much of the beginning of Chapter 11; he also wants to acknowledge his good fortune in being able to rely on Brian Beutler, Teddy Goff, Caitlyn Jacobs, and Jeremy Jacobs, dear friends who possess the best political minds he knows. We both would also like to express deep gratitude to Kevin Kruse for being one of our first readers.
We have elsewhere acknowledged the hundreds of people we spoke to, named and unnamed, quoted and unquoted, but it goes without saying that we could not have begun to write this book without their willingness to commit their time, get on the phone, and answer probing questions—an act of real generosity that often goes unacknowledged. Our sources and subjects trusted us with their stories, and we are profoundly grateful for every moment of their time.